Le Mans rejects F1, plans resort & new hotel

By:

Sam Collins

Added:

Sunday, May 22, 2016

Speaking in a interview with local news paper Le Maine Libre ACO President Pierre Fillon outlined the future vision for the Circuit De La Sarthe, which will include a new resort type complex and a hotel. In the piece Fillon revealed that the FIA had approached the ACO about hosting the French Grand Prix but that the club had declined the opportunity, “I think it would not bring anything” Fillon explains. “We would need to invest 17 or 18 Million euros and finance it via the ticket booths exclusively, At best, we would be breaking even on such an event.”

However major development at the famous circuit is expected in the coming years, a major safety upgrade has been carried out ahead of the 2016 24 Hours (auto) race and now attention is turning to a new project to improve footfall at the venue. “It won’t be a theme park but more of an experience related to the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and (technical) innovation showing how mobility is heading towards electricity and hydrogen” Fillon reveals.

The plans will see the resort open from April until October and it will be located from the current museum at the main gate and run down alongside the main circuit to the kart track. It will likely incorporate the Porsche experience centre and the racing school. It is suggested that visitors will be conveyed around the resort in autonomous cars. The project is expected to roll out at some point between 2019-2023.

Finally Fillon announced that a major new chain hotel is to be built in the Antares area on the infield of the circuit in close proximity to the football stadium and concert bowl.